Researcher Nikki Traylor-Knowles is fighting to save the coral reefs by studying their response to environmental changes. Traylor-Knowles has spent the last decade investigating the biology of coral reefs and how they are impacted by climate change, ocean acidification, and other human-made factors.

Traylor-Knowles and team are studying the mechanisms of coral stress responses to identify key factors responsible for coral survival. Using genetic sequencing to identify genes responsible for stress responses, they are studying the interactions between corals and their symbiotic algae. They hope their findings can help develop strategies to protect and restore coral reefs.

• Nikki Traylor-Knowles